Rear Window – voyeurism and teasing out concepts

April 17, 2020

Voyeurism theme and the ethics of watching

Point of view editing techniques: Jeff’s subjective point of view becomes symbolic of the male (patriarchal/chauvinistic) gaze. Hitchcock suggests there is a tendency to see the world through the male gaze; Jeff’s camera symbolises a patriarchal framework.

The camera also captures people’s tendency to watch: we share a natural curiosity to pry into the secret lives of others: become a “race of Peeping Toms”

Is it ethical to watch the freckles on someone’s back?

However, owing to the fact that Jeff catches the criminal, Hitchcock suggests that there is a role for vigilance.